Current Status of Qt6 Support in QGIS

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 91 views

Introduction

QGIS, a popular open-source geographic information system (GIS), offers a wide range of features and tools for geospatial data analysis, mapping, and visualization. Building QGIS from source code can be a complex process, especially when it comes to ensuring compatibility with the latest versions of dependencies, such as Qt. In this article, we will explore the current state of Qt6 support in QGIS and provide guidance on building QGIS from source on Windows 10.

QGIS and Qt: A Brief Overview

QGIS relies heavily on the Qt framework for its user interface, graphics, and other core functionality. Qt is a cross-platform application development framework that provides a comprehensive set of libraries and tools for building GUI applications. Over the years, QGIS has been built using various versions of Qt, including Qt4 and Qt5.

Qt6 Support in QGIS

In recent years, Qt has released several major updates, including Qt6, which promises improved performance, security, and features. However, the adoption of Qt6 in QGIS has been a gradual process. As of the latest stable release of QGIS (3.24), Qt6 is not yet fully supported.

Current Status of Qt6 Support in QGIS

According to the QGIS GitHub repository, the current master branch of QGIS uses Qt5 as the default Qt version. While there are some experimental branches that use Qt6, these are not yet stable or widely tested.

Building QGIS with Qt6: Challenges and Workarounds

If you still want to build QGIS with Qt6, you may encounter several challenges and workarounds:

Missing dependencies: Qt6 requires some additional dependencies, such as Qt6Core, Qt6Gui, and Qt6Widgets, which may not be available in your system's package manager.
Incompatible plugins: Some QGIS plugins may not be compatible with Qt6, leading to build errors or crashes.
Unresolved symbols: You may encounter unresolved symbol errors when building QGIS with Qt6, which can be resolved by updating the Qt6 version or using a different Qt6 build configuration.

Building QGIS from Source on Windows 10

To build QGIS from source on Windows 10, you will need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Qt Creator and Qt6

Download and install Qt Creator 7.0.2 or later from the official Qt website.
Install Qt6 (MSVC 2019, 64-bit) from the official Qt website.

Step 2: Clone the QGIS Repository

Clone the QGIS repository from GitHub using the following command:

git clone https://github.com/qgis/QGIS.git

### Step 3: Configure and Build QGIS Navigate to the QGIS repository directory and run the following command to configure QGIS for building:

cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DQT_VERSION=6 ..

Run the following command to build QGIS:

cmake --build .

### Step 4: Install QGIS Run the following command to install QGIS:

cmake --install .

Conclusion

Building QGIS from source on Windows 10 can be a complex process, especially when it comes to ensuring compatibility with the latest versions of dependencies, such as Qt. While Qt6 is not yet fully supported in QGIS, you can still build QGIS with Qt6 by following the workarounds and challenges outlined in this article. However, we recommend using the stable Qt5 version for now to avoid potential issues and ensure a smooth build process.

Future Development and Roadmap

The QGIS development team is actively working on improving Qt6 support in QGIS. You can track the progress of Qt6 support in QGIS by following the QGIS GitHub repository and participating in the QGIS community forums.

Additional Resources

For more information on building QGIS from source, please refer to the official QGIS documentation and the QGIS GitHub repository.

QGIS Documentation

QGIS Community Forums

QGIS Community Forums
QGIS GitHub Issues
QGIS Building and Qt6 Support: Frequently Asked Questions =============================================================

Introduction

Building QGIS from source can be a complex process, especially when it comes to ensuring compatibility with the latest versions of dependencies, such as Qt. In this article, we will address some of the most frequently asked questions about building QGIS and Qt6 support.

Q: What is the current status of Qt6 support in QGIS?

A: As of the latest stable release of QGIS (3.24), Qt6 is not yet fully supported. However, the QGIS development team is actively working on improving Qt6 support in QGIS.

Q: Can I build QGIS with Qt6?

A: Yes, you can build QGIS with Qt6, but you may encounter some challenges and workarounds, such as missing dependencies, incompatible plugins, and unresolved symbols.

Q: What are the system requirements for building QGIS with Qt6?

A: To build QGIS with Qt6, you will need:

Windows 10 or later
Qt Creator 7.0.2 or later
Qt6 (MSVC 2019, 64-bit)
CMake 3.10 or later
Git 2.20 or later

Q: How do I configure and build QGIS with Qt6?

A: To configure and build QGIS with Qt6, follow these steps:

Clone the QGIS repository from GitHub using the following command:

git clone https://github.com/qgis/QGIS.git

2.  Navigate to the QGIS repository directory and run the following command to configure QGIS for building:
    ```bash
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DQT_VERSION=6 ..

Run the following command to build QGIS:

cmake --build .

**Q: How do I install QGIS with Qt6?** -----------------------------------------

A: To install QGIS with Qt6, run the following command: ```bash cmake --install .

Q: What are some common issues I may encounter when building QGIS with Qt6?

A: Some common issues you may encounter when building QGIS with Qt6 include:

Missing dependencies
Incompatible plugins
Unresolved symbols
Build errors due to incompatible Qt6 versions

Q: How can I troubleshoot issues when building QGIS with Qt6?

A: To troubleshoot issues when building QGIS with Qt6, follow these steps:

Check the QGIS build logs for errors and warnings.
Verify that you have the latest versions of Qt6 and CMake installed.
Try building QGIS with a different Qt6 version or configuration.
Search the QGIS community forums and GitHub issues for similar problems.

Q: Where can I find more information about building QGIS with Qt6?

A: For more information about building QGIS with Qt6, please refer to the official QGIS documentation and the QGIS GitHub repository.